September 30, 2012

Wrapping up Rangers' 8-7 victory over Angels

Josh Hamilton didn’t know what was going on. He doesn’t get
too caught up in the standings or magic numbers or potential playoff scenarios.

And Hamilton,
like most of the Texas Rangers, weren’t overjoyed with clinching a postseason
berth on Sunday night.

After all, they won’t be too pleased if they go into the
playoffs as one of the two American League wild card teams and facing a
one-game, win-or-go-home series.

“I know we have to win at least one more game,” Hamilton said. “Which is
good.”

Texas needs to win one game
in its three-game series at Oakland
to clinch it’s third consecutive AL West title.

“We had a light toast and I congratulated them on what they
had accomplished to this point,” manager Ron Washington said. “But there is
still unfinished business out there.”

Said closer Joe Nathan: “We still have a lot of work to do,
one win away from our division. And we’ve still got work to do to stay atop the
American League. As much as we want to celebrate this win tonight, let’s get on
the bird and do the job.”

Here are a few postgame notes:

* Adrian Beltre left in the top of the seventh inning in
Game 2 when he re-aggravated a left shoulder strain. He initially injured it in
the ninth inning of Game 1. Beltre said he hopes it’s nothing serious, and he’ll
be able to play on Monday in Oakland.
He had a similar injury earlier this season and played the next day. “I’m
hoping it’s the same case,” Beltre said.

* Michael Young was replaced after the sixth inning, as he
left with a sore left Achilles. It’s not considered serious, though, and Young
said he should be ready to play on Monday.

* It was a day of highs and lows for the Rangers. Here’s how
David Murphy described it: “You can say the first game was ultimate heartbreak,
and the second game was ultimate gratification. The best part of the day was
seeing Joe Nathan get a second chance and come through with it.”

* Nathan blew the save in Game 1, and bounced back in Game
2. He worked around a one-out walk to close out his 37th save.
Nathan said it was the first time he’s worked both games of a doubleheader, and
said he would be available on Monday if needed.

* Koji Uehara struck out the side in the eighth inning, and
has retired the last 23 batters he’s faced, including 15 on strikeouts.

* The Rangers announced a crowd of 48,089 for Game 2 on
Sunday, their second sellout of the day. They sold out 38 regular-season games
this season, a club record, and reached the three-million mark in attendance
for the first time. They finished with a total attendance of 3,460,280, third most
in the majors.